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dishwater

American  
[dish-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈdɪʃˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər /

noun

  1. water in which dishes are, or have been, washed.


idioms

  1. dull as dishwater / ditchwater, extremely dull; boring.

dishwater British  
/ ˈdɪʃˌwɔːtə /

noun

  1. water in which dishes and kitchen utensils are or have been washed

  2. something resembling this

    that was dishwater, not coffee

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dishwater More Idioms  

Etymology

Origin of dishwater

First recorded in 1475–85; dish + water

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With its slow pacing, shaky handheld cameras, dishwater cinematography and unnervingly extreme closeups, it feels more like an intense indie drama than a whimsical tale of a robber with a peculiar M.O.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

From their desks, nearly 30 stories off the ground, they watched as the sky transformed from hazy, slate blue in the morning to dirty, dishwater gray at noon.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023

University graduate Ms Espie launched a legal action against the restaurant chain after the accident while changing dishwater detergent in December 2019.

From BBC • May 21, 2023

He was dull as dishwater compared to many of the others vying for the nomination, and nobody had ever really considered him presidential timber.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2022

Then the water works its way into a stream and then a reservoir and finally is pumped back into the sink to be used as dishwater once again.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins

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